Configuration
In this lesson and its tutorial, we will show you how to create, edit, and configure a Virtual Machine (VM) using VMware Workstation Pro.
Note: On our Hands-On Tutorial, We will walk-through with you into the Virtual Machine Creation Wizard Step-by-Step until you build your first Virtual Machine.
In this Theoretical part of the lesson, We will show you how can you edit, and configure your VM that you have created within the Technical part.
First, Walk-Through into VMware Workstation Pro Toolbar
Once you open VMware Workstation Pro, you will always see the Toolbar, at the top of the window. Toolbar, provides the essential tools and settings that will be a great help for you during your work on Virtual Machines. The toolbar has some Tabs and tools. Tabs are File, Edit, View, VM, Tabs, and Help, each tab has its own menu that can help you (We will discuss each in the next section).
Also, some Tools (Icons) exist next to the Tabs that help you to manage VMs, which they are:
- Power, that runs, reset and stop the VM.
- Send, that sends some files to VM.
- Snapshot (3-tools), for VM backup purposes.
- Show or hide for appearance (4-tools), to show or hide sidebars.
This is a brief summary of Toolbar components. The Toolbar details will be at the Technical part of this lesson.
A quick overview of each tab menu, as you can see down below:
Second, Editing the created Virtual Machine (VM)
After creating the VM in the Technical part in this lesson, We can see the Summary or Dashboard of this VM. We can check the hardware devices with their settings, Description of the VM, or if you want to add any additional details like (User-manual or copyright if you own this machine, and a Thumbnail live view of your VM.
Also, You can Show or Hide the Toolbar, Description, and hardware Sidebar, Thumbnail bar, and the Library bar for easy view and navigation.
You can see the Edit View down below:
Finally, Configuring the created Virtual Machine (VM)
if you want to configure the hardware settings of the VM, you can do it via:
- VM Creation Wizard.
- Editing the VM, after creation for scalability and flexibility.
In Our case, We will configure the machine after it has been created.
Memory>
You can specify (multiples of 4) the amount of memory allocated to this virtual machine in MegaByte (MB). Along with having colored thresholds to help you in specifying the perfect amount of RAM to the VM, without affecting your Host OS performance.
Processors>
You can customize your VM CPU by choosing Number of processors, and Number of Cores per processor to have a powerful CPU for your VM for heavy-duty work. Also, you can check some Virtualization Engine Options that can optimize the performance of your VM, of course with considering balancing the hardware specs of your VM with your Host OS that also shares this Hardware specs.
Hard Disk>
You can see the Virtual Disk File path (*.vmdk), Along with Disk details that show capacity summarization and information regarding the disk contents whether they packaged in one file or separated into multiple files for compression, encryption, and security purposes.
Also, you can configure some options in Disk Utilities section, where you can access your virtual disk directly via Guest OS without opening the VM via (Mapping).
Addition to that, You can optimize the performance and adjust the capacity of the VM according to your needs at any time without the need to recreate from scratch.
CD/DVD>
You can configure the settings of the CD/DVD regarding the connection method and device status, with having the ability to configure some advanced settings related to this hardware device of the VM.
Floppy>
Same as the previous hardware device (CD/DVD) you can configure the same settings using the floppy disk instead of CD/DVD, if your physical machine supports Floppy.
Network Adapter>
You can configure and customize your Network adapter with various options and settings to ensure you get As much As possible simulated environment similar to the physical network options. You can use your network adapters in different modes along with configuring additional Network Adapters to connect VM with the internet, Host OS, and other VM machines that leads to a fully integrated environment.
USB Controller>
You can configure USB options here with different compatibility versions and speed, which leads to empowering VM with any USB device or even Bluetooth (Mouse, Keyboard, Network Adapter, Headphones, Speakers, CD Reader, any USB device can be connected directly to VM (Plug-and-Play).
Sound Card>
You can configure the Sound Card if you want to use the built-in or an external card, also having an advanced sound feature which is canceling echo that makes the sound more pure and clear.
Printer>
You can even use Printer if you have one, so you can fully depend on your VM for daily and routine jobs without going back to the Host OS to print or use any peripheral device.
Display>
You can configure all Display settings from this menu, where you have the capability to customize the Display to support 3D or not, use multiple monitors with your VM, even you can configure your Graphics Memory with more advanced features so you can rely on VM with a customizable GPU.
After Walking-Through and configuring the Hardware Tab, We have an adjacent tab called Options for advanced security, and encryption options that may be handy for some Use-Cases.
We have shown you in both parts (Theoretical, and Up-coming Technical), how to create, edit, and configure your VM in order to customize it to meet your needs whatever it is using VMware Workstation Pro. Refer to this guidance manual and the Hands-On tutorial for Step-by-Step revision.
In the next lesson, we will go to the opposite of VMware which is a free open-source software called VirtualBox.
See you in the Next-Lesson.